David Warner makes classy gesture after playing his final game for Australia… but teammates fail to give veteran the send off he deserves

David Warner’s courageous strike was in vain as West Indies powered their way to a 37-run win over Australia in the third and final T20 match at the Optus Stadium.

West Indies posted a monstrous 6-220 in Tuesday night’s match after blistering knocks from Andre Russell (71 off 29 balls) and Sherfane Rutherford (67 no off 40 balls).

In reply, Warner overcame a scary blow to the chin to post 81 off 49 balls, giving Australia a chance at victory in front of 17,018 fans.

But the 3-3 loss, which saw Aaron Hardie, Warner and Josh Inglis all depart in ten balls, spelled the end of Australia’s hopes, with the home side finishing at 5-183.

The result denied Australia a clean sweep of the three-match series, with the hosts instead winning 2–1 ahead of the tour of New Zealand.

The veteran scored 81 runs but his effort was in vain as Australia lost to West Indies

But fans were blown away by an incredibly generous act from Warner as he left the stage on Tuesday.

The veteran presented a young boy with his player of the series trophy before signing some autographs.

“A wonderful gesture from Davey,” said a fan on X.

West Indies crashed to 3-17 after an early strike from debutant pacer Xavier Bartlett (2-37).

Russell found himself in trouble when his team found themselves in deep trouble at 5-79 in the ninth over.

He combined with Rutherford for a 139-run stand that changed the course of the match.

It was the biggest sixth wicket stand in a T20 international.

But it wasn’t until the penultimate was overcome by Adam Zampa that Russell took the damage to the next level.

Russell scored 28 runs, including four sixes, in that devastating over.

His three successive sixes to complete the over came after Tim David dropped a diving catch on the boundary.

Had that catch been taken, Zampa would have had figures of 2-43 with three balls left in his spell.

Instead, he finished with 1-65 – the most expensive figures of his 77-match T20I career.

Russell, who suffered a painful blow to his glove early in his innings, finished with seven sixes and four fours to his name.

After the match, Warner signed autographs for children at Optus Stadium

He presented his player of the series trophy to a young fan in a stylish manner

Mitch Marsh’s promotion to opener didn’t last long as the skipper went for 17.

Warner was on 21 when a surging Russell order collided with the bottom of his helmet grille.

The 37-year-old received on-field treatment to check for concussion or signs of damage to his jaw, but was given the green light to continue.

Warner cut the next ball for four and reached his half-century in 25 balls with a big six on the ground.

But when Hardie (16 off 16) chopped Romario Shepherd onto his stumps, it caused a collapse from which Australia could not recover.

Warner ran deep and Inglis was dismissed when Roston Chase (2-19) took a sharp catch off his own bowling.

Glenn Maxwell (12 off 14 balls) couldn’t get going, but Tim David (41no off 19 balls) could at least provide the crowd with some late fireworks.